Waukee schools may ask voters for an $180 million bond. What you need to know:

Waukee's school board will decide Monday whether to put an $180 million bond referendum on the Nov. 7 ballot.

The Waukee Community School District has received enough signatures to place the issue up for a vote, spokesperson Kayla Choate said. It needed 2,800 signatures.

The board will decide at its meeting at 6 p.m. Monday and, if approved, the measure will go in front of voters during the Nov. 7 city and school election.

More: Election Day in Iowa is approaching. Your guide on Des Moines metro candidates, issues

What would $180 million pay for in Waukee schools?

If voters approve the $180 million bond, the money would be used to expand Waukee High School's auditorium and replace the track and turf field. It also would be used to build a new transportation and operations center, expand the district's central offices, purchase land for future school sites, and build the district's 12th elementary school once its 11th, Waterford, opens in 2024.

It also would pay for parking lot, security, roof, playground, technology and energy efficiency repairs and improvements at various buildings.

More: These 4 Des Moines metro suburbs have grown so much they need a special census

Why does Waukee schools want to take out a new bond?

In a virtual town hall last week, Superintendent Brad Buck said the district has about $10 million annually for infrastructure needs. But that isn't enough to compensate for where the district would like to be in the next decade.

"We need to be in a position to, yes, pay for new items but also have funds available to maintain our aging facilities at the same level of quality we desire," Buck said.

The district opened a new middle school this year as its student population and the city continue to grow. Waukee grew 74% between 2010 and 2020, according to U.S. Census data.

Buck said the district would still have the bonding authority — even after the $180 million in bonds were issued — to build a third high school or a 13th elementary school.

Will the bond raise taxes?

Buck said approval of the bonds would not raise the district's tax rate.

What would Waukee do without the bonds?

Buck said if the bond issue does not pass, the district would likely prioritize funding a new transportation and operations center to meet the district's growing need for busses. It would cost about $20 million.

The district's current bus facility at 605 University Ave. would continue to serve the southern areas of the community, according to Choate, while a new one would serve the northern portion.

Building a new transportation center without bonds means the district would need to save at least two years' worth of its infrastructure budget and complete only emergency repairs at schools or other district buildings as needed, Buck said.

If that were the case, Buck said the district would likely have to defer maintenance. That could mean another bond referendum to catch up on projects, which could cost more money down the road due to rising costs, he said.

What else would the Waukee school district like to have on the November ballot?

Voters also will decide Nov. 7 whether to extend the district's physical plant and equipment levy, which provides about $6 million of the $10 million in infrastructure money.

The plant and equipment levy and statewide sales tax funding together give the district about $27 million for infrastructure funding annually. The district spends about $14 million on debt and another $3 million for lease payments.

The current physical plant and equipment levy is set to expire in 2026, according to the district.

Choate said a petition is not part of the process for the levy extension. Instead, the school board will vote on Monday whether to place the issue on the ballot.

Phillip Sitter covers suburban growth and development for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Waukee schools could ask voters for $180 million construction bond